Heating system and apparatus



April 17, 1951 K. L. REINKE HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 5 Sneecs-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 15, 1945 ffarlb. Wei 76.

A ril 17, 1951 L, ElNK 2,549,238

HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \k v w x Q K m I w I Q e 8 5 a Q M f m mm /6 0 0 Z m H 6 2 I g a s m V .r v

K. L. REINKE HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS April 17, 1951 Filed Oct. 15, 1945 Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Karl L. Reinke, Oak Park, 111.

Application October 15, 1945, Serial No. 622,262

9 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to a system for evenly distributing steam .or other heating mediums so that even the remotest radiators may receive heat in timed relation and as soon as others closer to the source of heat supply.

An important object of the invention is to provide an air vent in conjunction with a retarder which permits air to be purged from a radiator or from a heating line only after the heating medium has reached a predetermined pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retarder in conjunction with an air vent to balance the pressure and to build up pressure as desired in different radiators so that any radiator of a part of the system may receive heat before or after other radiators in that same part of the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heating system having a combined air vent and retarder in connection with separate radiators whereby they may be independently adjusted for receiving heat in timed relation to the remainder of the system.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a combination of air vents and retarders in connection with the heating supply lines and in advance of the radiators of a portion of the system as well as in connection with the separate radiators of a system so that where a group of buildings are heated by one central plant,

line before a heating medium enters the lateral feeders to increase the efficiency of the heating system by insuring the distribution of heat uniformly or as desired to all radiators.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved retarding device for use separately or in combination with an' air vent to insure that air is purged from a radiator only after a predetermined pressure has 7 been built up in the air vent and retarder.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the specification land will be apparent from the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates a fragment or portion of a heating system in which the retarder of the (present invention is utilized and applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing an air pressure.

ferent radiators in any one apartment, for

valve, a retarder and a water returning trap as employed in connection with the system shown in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 i a sectional view of a retarder in accordance with this invention having a weighted cone above the pressure disc;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a retarder in accordance with this invention having a weighted cone with a pressure disc above the cone;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a retarder having an adjustable pressure spring for holding it in place;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a retarder comprising a variably weighted disc without any returning spring;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a retarding device with a weighted disc adapted to be controlled by an electro-responsive device such as a magnetic coil;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a combined air vent and retarder in accordance with this invention in lowered position;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the structure of Fig. 8 in heated and raised position;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a common type of air vent valve;

Fig. 11 shows an air vent valve with a protected discharge opening; and.

Fig. 12 shows an air vent valve of the type shown in Fig. 11 with the protector fitting removed and a ball type of retarder in accordance with this invention applied directly to the threaded stem at the top of the air vent.

Where a single or central furnace is used for heating a large building such as an apartment building, which has a large number of radiators located at different distances from the central heating plant, and where even the radiators of the same apartment require a different amount of heat for properly supplying the difierent rooms which they serve, it is extremely difficult to utilize the present air vents for meeting the different conditions and for supplying heat in timed relation as desired. By determining the pressure in the system at various points from the furnace, a retarder may be installed in which the pressure required to operate the retarder may be varied depending upon the heat demanded. By combining an air vent with a retarder, a pressure may be built up in all of the radiators which permits the air to be purged or released from a radiator only after the steam or heating medium has reached a predetermined By varying the pressure of the dif- "the water return pipe I1. is a float 38 carried by a lever arm 39 for closing example, the bathroom radiators may be adjusted to receive heat first, the living room radiators to receive heat next, and the dining room, kitchen and bedroom radiators to receive heat in succession, or at the same time, or in any timed equence as desired.

In carrying out and operating this system, an assembly and arrangement as shown in part by Fig. 1' may be employed in which a boiler or furnace 55 has a main heating pipe line It and a return or water line ll.

Ihe main line may extend for a long distance and may be provided with successive reductions I8, l9 and the like. From each portion of the main line a number of separate heating lines may extend and be suitably connected to radiators Z1 and 22 located at various distances from the main heater. Various pipe line extensions 23 and 24 may extend to radiators 25 and 26 respectively at the same or different elevations with respect to each other, to the other radiators and to the main heater itself. At the end or between the ends of each main heating pipe line or the extreme end of the system an air vent device 21 may be provided to insure that the main feeder line will receive heat to the furthest extremity thereof before the heat is supplied to any or" the individual radiators of the system. A similar air vent 28 may be applied to each separate heating line 20 to insure that heat will be delivered to that portion of the system in advance of a retarder 29 which controls the supply of heat to that portion of the system.

This retarder may consist of a sealing disc 30 carried by an arm 3| mounted on a pivot 32 at the top with a weight 33 attached to the lower end of the arm and at the side opposite the disc tending to hold the disc in closed relation against .one end of a pipe-of the separate heating line 20.

It is also desirable to provide a water trap 34 connected to the main pipe line and to the sectional pipe lines to receive water of condensation therefrom by means of a pipe 35 through an inlet 36 and to discharge it from the outlet 3? into a valve an in the outlet 31 when an accumulation of water or liquid in the trap falls ma predetermined limit. a

For any portion of the pressure supply line .these parts are preferably mounted in succession, first the air vent 28, then the retarder 2i] and then the water trap 34 to insure that the float return will not interfere with the proper operation of the air valve and the retarder.

One end of each radiator is connected'to the heat supply line at the bottom of the radiator and the air vent or relief is connected to the other end of the radiator at the top thereof. In the ordinary installation the air vent may comprise a casing 4| as shown in Fig. 10 having a hollow threaded extension 152 at the bottom, and 'adis charge opening 53 at the top normally'open when that when the expansion member 46 is heated sufficiently the bottom d1 will bulge outwardly causing the member to rise, carrying with it the stem and the valve 415 closing the air discharge opening 43.

This type of air vent valve may be modified by Mounted in this trap 4, providing a threaded stem 49 as in Fig. 11 for the discharge outlet 55 with a fitting 5i normally protecting the discharge opening 53. By removing the fitting 5|, a retarder of a type contemplated by this invention may be applied thereto which may be in one of the forms shown by Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, or it may be a fitting 52 as shown in Fig. 12. This retarder comprises a ball 53 mounted in a retaining cage 54 having a valve opening 55 at the bottom closed by the ball 53 in its downward position and because of the weight of the ball, requiring a certain pressure to raise the ball from the opening 55 to permit the passage of air therethrough. The cage has openings 56 at the top thereof which permit the disseat 55.

Instead of a ball type of retarder as shown in Fig. 12, a weighted retarder may be used as shown by Fig. 3 which comprises a casing 51; having a lower partition '58 with a central opening 59 to receive a valve stem 38 therethrough and with outer openings 6| normally covered by a valve disc 5'2 secured to the stem. Attached to the stem above the disc is a conical device '63 adapted to close a conical opening 64 in a cross partition 65 when sufficient pressure is applied to the casing and with a spring Glisurrounding the conical portion and bearing against it and the lower side of the partition 55tending to hold the disc 32 in closed position on the lower partition 58. Above the partition 651s a central guide 6's for receiving the upper end of the stem 60. An inlet pipe S8 is connected to the bottom of the casing, a discharge opening 169 is provided above the conical valve opening 64 in the side wall of the casing and a cover 76 closes the top of the casing.

In the retarders shown by Fig. 4, a casing H has an inlet pipe 12 at the bottom and a cover 13 with discharge openings M in the top. Extending transversely in the casing is a partition #5 having a central conical opening 16 and a plurality of surrounding openings 1? closed by a disc 78 on top of the partition. Suspended by the disc and connected to a central stem I'Q thereof is a conical weight '33 adapted to close the opening it when it is sufliciently raised by pressure applied to the casing, the closing being opposed by a light spring 8| which bears at its upper end against'the under side of the partition and at its lower end against the conical wall of the weightr a The casing of Fig. 5 may be provided with a partition 82 having a retarding pressure opening 83 at one side thereof closed by a disc valve 8.4 mounted at one end ofa spring holder 85-the other end of which is secured by a suitable fastening device 86 to the wall-of the partition '82. The valve is held in place by aspring 87 surrounding a stem 88 which passes through the holder 85 and the partition 82 and -is supported at the underside of the partitionby a projection 89. At

' theupper end of the stem is a thumb screw 90 pressure of the spring 81.

bearing against the upper end of the spring, the

thereby tending to retain the valve 84 covering the discharge opening 83 until the pressure admitted to the casing is sufficient to overcome the As shown in Fig. 7 a valve 3| having a stem 92 may be seated at the upper end of a sleeve 93 extending from a partition 94 in the casing H, the sleeve providing space for receiving a magnetic'winding or coil'95 which hasconductors 96 extending therefrom to a suitable source of cur-- rent supply and means, not shown, for controlling current to the winding. The valve 9| is retained in position by inner guides 91 and when the coil is energized, the disc is held seated against any pressure which enters the pipe I2, but if the pressure is sufiicient and the coil is de-energized,

the valve may be raised to permit a flow of fluid outwardly from the openings I4 of the casing.

In the form of the invention shown by Fig. 6,

a casing I has a pipe IOI threaded into an inlet opening I02 and at the top is a cover I03 hav- -ing an outwardly threaded hollow stem I04 which corresponds to the opening I02 so that a number of such casings can be connected one to another, the stem I04 of one extending into the threaded opening I02 of the other, thus connecting them in series.

Extending transversely within the casing is a partition I05 having openings I06 surrounding a central opening I01 for receiving the stem I08 of a disc valve I00 on top of the partition and adapted to cover the openings I00. A number of discs IIO may be applied to the valve disc I09 and held thereon by fastening means III, the additional discs acting ployed, but if desired, the air valve and retarder may be combined in one device as shown more clearly by Figs. 8 and 9. In this form a casing II2 has an inlet H3 at the bottom and a cover II I4 with discharge openings H5 at the top. In

through a supporting guide H9 and having a collar I20 at a distance from the end of the stem. Extending upwardly from the top of the member H6 is a guide stern I2I having a lower conical projection I22.and an upper disc I23 .with a lower conical projection I24. The stem I2I extends through a partition I25 having an .upper conical opening I26 for receiving the upper cone I24 and a lower conical opening I21 for receiving the lower conical portion I22. With this construction the expansible member is supported by the disc I23 in engagement with ,the top of the partition I25 when the expansible member is cold, the collar I20 at this time being positioned above its guiding partition III] as shown more clearly in Fig. 8. When the pressure in the casing is sufiicient to raise the valve .disc I23, a flow is, permitted through the casing 'from'the inlet II3 through the discharge openings II 5. This requires that a certain pressure be built up in the casing to permit the opening,

but after a radiator has been vented in this manner and warm or hot air or other fluid is admitted in the casing, the expansible member will be extended so that the bottom II'I bulges outwardly as shown in Fig. 9 thereby moving the stem II8 downwardly until the collar I20 engages the partition II9 which will correspondingly raise the u per stem .I2I so that the stem will fir t .ee eite tree, ew. 9 a ethe .flei

through the valve opening I26, I 21 and then the .lower conical portion I22 will be moved into en,-

gagement with its conical opening I121 thereby closing the retarder against any further passage of air or other fluid through the casing I I2.

With this construction and apparatus embodied in a system as represented in part by Fig. 1, it is apparent that the separate radiators of an apartment may be regulated, for example, so that any radiator will receive heat before the other radiators, or if desired all the radiators of the apartment may receive heat at the same time.

Where a large building or a group of buildings are heated by one central plant, retarders may .be installed in the individual heating lines to allow the heating medium to be transmitted to the most distant buildings at the same time as. it would enter the nearest feeding lines. Inthis way a pressure could be built up in the entire main line before any heating medium would enter the lateral or subsidiary feeders. A retarder and system in accordance with this invention will work expressly well during weather varying from warm to medium when only short spurts of steam are required to heat the building, and also during the early morning warm-up period, when the supply pipes are cold or ordinarily filled with cold air. Under these conditions there is usually overheating near the boiler and underheating farther from the boiler. By adjusting the retarders at the ends of the steam lines to open under line pressure and to insure that steam is filling up the mains entirely to the ends thereof, the main supply line may be freed of air completely through air vents installed at the ends of the supply lines and therefore heated to the most distant point before any steam whatever is allowed to enter any radiator, including those nearest the boiler or furnace.

With this construction and system various other changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts may be provided in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a heating system, a heater and heat supply pipes extending therefrom, a plurality of radiators spaced at diiferent distances and different elevations with respect to the heater, fluid supply pipes connected to the radiators, air vent and pressure retarding devices in the pipes in advance of the radiators, air vent devices connected to the upper portion of the individual radiators, each air vent device for the individual radiators comprising a casing having a hollow expansion member movable therein by the application of heat, a partition forming an air venting opening, a weighted retarder on top of the partition for closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem to the expansion member, a valve spaced from the retarder on the stem below the partition for closing the opening when the expansion member is moved by the heat and air venting devices in the heat supply pipes at distances from the heater to insure that heat will be delivered to the extremities of the supply pipes before heat is supplied to the individual radiators of the system.

2. In a heating system, a main heater and main heat supply pipes extending therefrom, a plurality of radiators connected to the supply pipes at different distances and elevations from .the heater, each radiator having a casing with ,a hollow expansion member movable therein by the ap ica i nei h a a par itioniormineenair aventing'ropening, a weighted'retarder on top-of the partition for closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem to the expansion member, a

valve spaced from the retarder on the stem below the partition'for closing the opening when i the expansion member is moved by the heat and air venting means connected to the heat supply pipes 'at the remote extremity of the main heating line to insure that the main heating line will receive heat to the extremity thereof in timed relation to the supply of heat to the individual radiators of the system.

.3. In a heating system, a heater and a main heating pipe line extending therefrom, a plurality of radiators connected to the pipe line at different distances from the heater, fluid pressure Venting and weighted retarding means connected to the upper portion of each of the radiators having a casing with a hollow expansion member movable therein by the application of heat, a partition forming an air venting opening, a weighted retarder on top of the partition for closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem to the expansion member, a valve spaced from the retarder on the stem below the partition weighted 'retarders will admit heat to the raply and a pipe line extending therefrom, a plurality of radiators in different sets connected to the pipe line at different distances from the source of heat supply, the different sets of radiators having a separate supply pipe connected to the main pipe line, air vent means at the remote extremity of the main pipe line, an air vent and fluid pressure retarding'means connected to the supply pipe for a particular set of radiators, and air venting and weighted pressure retarding means connected to the upper portion of each radiator, each radiator having a casing with a hollow expansion member movable therein by the application of heat, a partition forming an air venting opening, a weighted retarder on top of the partition for closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem to the expansion mem-' ber, a valve spaced from the retarder on the stem below the partition for closing the opening when the expansion member is moved by the heat the weights of the retarders being varied for radiators in each individual set so that the different rooms of any particular set will receive heat in a predetermined sequence.

5. In a heating system, a source of heat supply and a heating pipe line extending therefrom,

a plurality of radiators connected to the pipe line at diiferentdistances from the source of heat supply, air venting and weighted pressure re- I :tarding means in the pipe line in advance of the Iradiators, air venting and weighted retarding means connected to the upper portion of-each of the radiators, comprising a casing having a hollow expansion member movable therein by the application of heat, a partition forming an air venting opening, a weighted retarder on top of the partition for'closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem to the expansion member, a valve spaced fromthe retarder on the stem below :thepartition for closing the opening when the expansion member .is moved by the heatthc weights of the retarders being varied in different radiators to insure "the supply of heat thereto in predetermined order, and water trapping means connected to the source of heat supply and to the main pipe line following the air venting and retarding means in advance of the radiators.

.6. In a heating system, a source of heat supply, a radiator connected by a pipe line to the source of heat supply, means for regulating the timing of the supply of heat to the radiator with relation to the pressure of the heat supply, said means comprising an air venting and weighted pressureregulating device connected to the 11pper portion of the radiator, said device comprising a casing having a hollow expansion member movable therein by the application of heat, ;a partition forming an air venting opening, :a

weighted retarder on top of the partition for closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem to the expansion member, a valve spaced fromthe retarder on the stem below the partition for closing the opening when the expansion member is moved by the .heat the weight of the pressure regulating device being variable to change the pressure at which the retarder will be opened by pressure within the radiator.

7. In a heating system, a source of heat supply, a pipe line and a plurality of radiators connected thereby to the heat supply, a combined .air venting and fluid pressure retarding device for aeradiator comprising a heat responsiveexpansionmember with a valve thereon for controlling an air ventrat the upper portion of the radiator, a weighted valve in combination with the expansion member to also close the air vent, the weighted valve having a reduced stem extending through the air vent and connected to the expansion member, a :valve carried by the expansion member at the other side of the air vent for also closing it when the expansion member is expanded, the weighted valve closing the .air ventwhen the expansion member is not expanded to insure a'predetermined pressure applied .to the expansion member before the air vent is opened to the atmosphere.

8. In a heating system for radiators, a source 'of'heat supply, a pipe line extending from the "source .of supply to the radiators, an air venting and retarding device comprising a casing applied to the upper venting opening of a radiator, the

casing having a hollow expansion member movable therein by the application of heat, means forming an air venting opening, a weighted retarder closing the opening and connected by a reduced stem through the opening to the expansion member, and a valve spaced from the retarder and connected to the expansion member and the stem for closing the opening from the other side when the expansionmemberis moved by the heat, the arrangement being such that the weighted retarder 'will maintain the air vent closed until sufiicientpressure is applied inthe casing, whereupon the expansion member is moved before it is heated toopen the valve and the expansion member being operated after it is heated to close the valve. I 9. In a heating system, a source of heat supply,,a pipe line .and a plurality of radiatorsconnected thereby to theheat supplma weighted pressure retarder for each of the heating radiators comprising a weighted valve ,structure'for connection to the discharge end of a radiator air "vent valve, the weight'oithe retarder valve being changed for difierent predetermined pressures and the valve being normally closed but opened by pressure from within the radiator, and an air valve attached to the radiator comprising a casing with a partition with an air relief opening therein, a weighted valve at the top of the partition for closing the opening, an expansion member below the partition movable toward and from the partition by its expansion, a valve at the top of the expansion member, a stem connecting the valves at the top and below the partition for moving the valves to open one valve and to close the other in accordance with the movement of the expansion member to insure that the air valve of the radiator will remain closed for the discharge of air from the radiator until a predetermined pressure has been built up in the radiator, in the air vent and in the retarder.

KARL L. REINKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,298,446 Boyd Mar. 25, 1919 1,825,459 Johnson Sept. 29, 1931 1,875,246 Lifland Aug. 130, 1932 2,027,881 Raymond Jan. 14, 1936 2,041,282 Brooks May 19, 1936 2,300,962 Pratt Nov. 3, 1942 2,378,760 Ferguson June 19, 1945 

